1, 2. Yikuphi ukukhetha okumele sikwenze ngokuphathelane lokuzilibazisa?

AKE sithi usufuna ukudla isithelo esimnandi kodwa ubusunanzelela ukuthi elinye icele libolile. Kuyini ozakwenza? Okunye ongakwenza yikudla isithelo sonke kuhlanganise lokubolileyo; kumbe ulahle sonke isithelo; kumbe usike icele elibolileyo ubusuzidlela okungabolanga khona. Uzakhethani?

² Ngenye indlela, ukuzilibazisa kufanana lesithelo leso. Ngezinye izikhathi, ungafuna ukuzilibazisa kodwa ubusunanzelela ukuthi okokuzilibazisa okukhona lamuhla kubi futhi kubolile. Ngakho-ke uzakwenzani? Abanye bangazimisela ukwamukela okubi njalo bamukele loba yikuphi okokuzilibazisa okusemhlabeni lo. Abanye bangabalekela konke ukuzilibazisa ukuze babe leqiniso lokuthi kabasoze bacine sebezilibazisa ngezinto ezilimazayo. Kodwa abanye njalo bangabalekela okokuzilibazisa okulimazayo, besekusithi ngesinye isikhathi bazilibazise ngezinto ezakhayo. Yisiphi isinqumo okumele usenze ukuze uzigcine usethandweni lukaNkulunkulu?

3. Kuyini esizakuhlola?

³ Inengi lethu lingabalekela okokuzilibazisa okulimazayo, besekusithi ngesinye isikhathi lizilibazise ngezinto ezakhayo. Siyaqaphela ukuthi siyakufuna ukuzilibazisa, kodwa sifuna ukuthi sizilibazise ngezinto ezilokuziphatha okuhle. Ngakho-ke, kumele sihlole ukuthi singakubona njani okokuzilibazisa  okwakhayo lokungakhiyo. Okwakuqala kasixoxeni ngokuthi esikhetha ukuzilibazisa ngakho kungathinta njani ukukhonza kwethu uJehova.

4. Kungani kumele sikhumbule ngokuzinikela kwethu lapho sikhetha okokuzilibazisa?

⁴ UFakazi osekhulile owabhaphathizwa ngo-1946 wathi: “Ngiba leqiniso lokuthi ngibakhona ezinkulumweni zonke zobhaphathizo njalo ngiyalalelisisa, kube angathi yimi engibhaphathizwayo.” Kungani wayesenza njalo? Wathi yena, “Ukuhlala ngicabanga ngokuzinikela kwami kube linyathelo eliqakathekileyo ukuthi ngihlale ngithembekile.” Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uzavumelana lombono lo. Ukuzikhumbuza ukuthi wathembisa uJehova ukuthi uzasebenzisa ukuphila kwakho konke ekuthini umkhonze kuzakukhuthaza ukuthi ubekezele. (Bala umTshumayeli 5:4.) Kuliqiniso ukuthi ukucabangisisa ngokuzinikela kwakho kuzathinta umbono wakho ngenkonzo yobuKhristu, njalo layo yonke imisebenzi yokuphila okugoqela lokuzilibazisa. Umphostoli uPhawuli wakhuluma ngeqiniso lelo lapho ebhalela amaKhristu osuku lwakhe wathi: “Ngakho langabe liyadla kumbe liyanatha, loba kuyikuphi elikwenzayo, kwenzeleni udumo lukaNkulunkulu.”​—1 KwabaseKhorinte 10:31.

5. UMbhalo kaLevi 22:​18-20 usinceda njani ukuthi sibone isixwayiso esikuRoma 12:1?

 ⁵ Konke okwenzayo empilweni kuthinta ukukhonza kwakho uJehova. Encwadini yakhe ayibhalela abaseRoma, uPhawuli wasebenzisa isitsho esilamandla ukuze ancede ayekhonza labo bazwisise iqiniso lelo. Wabakhuthaza wathi: ‘Nikelani imizimba yenu njengemihlatshelo ephilayo, engcwele lemthokozisayo uNkulunkulu​—okuyikukhonza kwenu ngomoya.’ (KwabaseRoma 12:1) Umzimba wakho ugoqela ingqondo yakho, inhliziyo yakho kanye lamandla akho. Konke lokhu ukusebenzisa ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu. (UMakho 12:30) UPhawuli ukhuluma ngokukhonza lokhu okwenziwa ngenhliziyo yonke njengomhlatshelo. Isitsho leso silesixwayiso esifanana lalokho okwakusenziwa ngaphansi koMthetho kaMosi, uNkulunkulu wayengawamukeli umhlatshelo owawulesici. (ULevi 22:18-20) Ngendlela efananayo, nxa inkonzo yomKhristu ingaba lesici kumbe isolise ngandlela thile, uNkulunkulu ngeke ayamukele. Kodwa lokho kungenzakala njani?

6, 7. UmKhristu angawungcolisa njani umzimba wakhe, njalo yiphi impumela engaba khona?

⁶ UPhawuli wakhuthaza amaKhristu aseRoma wathi: “Linganikeli izitho zemizimba yenu esonweni.” Waphinda wabatshela ukuthi ‘babulale izenzo ezimbi zomzimba.’ (KwabaseRoma 6:12-14; 8:13) Ekuqaliseni kwencwadi yakhe, wayephe izibonelo ‘zezenzo zomzimba.’ Ekhuluma ngabantu abalesono, wathi: “Imilomo yabo igcwele ukuthuka.” “Izinyawo zabo zilesiqubu ekuchitheni igazi.” “Ukumesaba uNkulunkulu kakukho emehlweni abo.” (KwabaseRoma 3:13-18) UmKhristu angenza ukuthi umzimba wakhe ube lesici nxa engasebenzisa “izitho” zakhe ukuthi enze izenzo zesono. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa umKhristu lamuhla engabukela ngabomo izinto ezifanana lemifanekiso yezemacansini kumbe abone udlakela olulesihluku, uyabe ‘enikela [amehlo akhe] esonweni,’ ngakho ngokwenza lokhu uyabe engcolisa umzimba wakhe wonke. Loba yikuphi ukukhonza akwenzayo  kuyabe sekufanana lomhlatshelo ongangcwele njalo uNkulunkulu ngeke awamukele. (UDutheronomi 15:21; 1 UPhetro 1:14-16; 2 UPhetro 3:11) UmKhristu uzithezela olulenkume nxa engakhetha okokuzilibazisa okungakhiyo!

⁷ Kuyacaca ukuthi umKhristu angakhetha okokuzilibazisa okubi kuba lempumela emibi. Ngakho-ke, sifuna ukukhetha okokuzilibazisa okuzakwenza umhlatshelo wethu ube muhle kuNkulunkulu hatshi okuzawungcolisa. Khathesi kasixoxeni ngokuthi singakubona njani okokuzilibazisa okwakhayo lokungakhiyo.

8, 9. (a) Ezokuzilibazisa zingehlukaniswa njani zibe yizigaba ezimbili? (b) Yikuzilibazisa okunjani esikwalayo njalo kungani sisenza njalo?

⁸ Ngendlela elula nje, ezokuzilibazisa zingafakwa zibe yizigaba ezimbili. Okwakuqala kugoqela lokho amaKhristu angeke azilibazisa ngakho; okunye kugoqela izinto amaKhristu angazamukela kumbe angeke azamukele. Kasiqaleni sixoxe ngesigaba sakuqala​—izinto amaKhristu angeke azilibazisa ngazo.

⁹ Njengoba kukhulunyiwe eSahlukweni sakuqala, okunye ukuzilibazisa kulezenzo ezilahlwa liBhayibhili ngokucacileyo. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngezinhlelo ezilesihluku ezitholakala kumaWebhusayithi, amafilimu, izinhlelo ze-TV, kanye lezingoma ezilokusebenzelana lamadimoni, ezilemifanekiso yezemacansini (iphonogirafi) kumbe ezikhuthaza izinto ezinyanyekayo ezilokuziphatha okubi. Lanxa okokuzilibazisa lokhu okwenyanyekayo kutshengisa izenzo ezephula umthetho kanye lezimiso zeBhayibhili njengezamukelekayo, kumele amaKhristu eqiniso azenyanye. (ImiSebenzi 15:28, 29; 1 KwabaseKhorinte 6:9, 10; ISambulo 21:8) Ngokwala okokuzilibazisa okunjalo okungakhiyo, utshengisa uJehova ukuthi ‘uyakuzonda okubi’ njalo ‘utshiya ububi’ ngazozonke izikhathi. Ngaleyo ndlela, uba ‘lokholo oluqotho.’​—KwabaseRoma 12:9; IHubo 34:14; 1 KuThimothi 1:5.

10. Yikuphi ukucabanga okuyingozi okuphathelane lokokuzilibazisa, njalo kungani kuyingozi?

 ¹⁰ Kodwa abanye bakubona kungelangozi ukuzilibazisa ngezinto ezilokuziphatha okubi. Bangase bathi, ‘Ngingabukela amafilimu anjalo kodwa kangisoze ngikwenze engikubone kuwo.’ Ukucabanga okunjalo kuyikuziyenga njalo kuyingozi. (Bala uJeremiya 17:9.) Nxa sithokoziswa yikubukela izinto uJehova azizondayo, siyabe ‘sikuzonda yini okubi’? Ukuhlala sibukela izinto ezimbi kungathundubeza imizwa yethu. (IHubo 119:70; 1 KuThimothi 4:1, 2) Umkhuba onjalo ungathinta lokho esikwenzayo kumbe indlela esibona ngayo ukuziphatha okubi okwenziwa ngabanye.

11. UGalathiya 6:7 ulawaphi amazwi aliqiniso aphathelane lokokuzilibazisa?

¹¹ Lokhu kwenzakele sibili. Amanye amaKhristu aziphatha kubi ngenxa yokuthi ayelomkhuba wokubukela amafilimu alokuziphatha okubi. Bayifunda ivaliwe indaba ethi “umuntu uvuna lokho akuhlanyelayo.” (KwabaseGalathiya 6:7) Kodwa umpumela onjalo ungabalekelwa. Nxa ungahlanyela engqondweni yakho okuhlanzekileyo, uzavuna uthokoza impumela emihle empilweni yakho.​—Bona ibhokisi elithi “ Kumele Ngikhethe Okokuzilibazisa Okunjani?”.

12. UGalathiya 6:5 uthini ngendaba yokuzilibazisa njalo yisiphi isiqondiso esilaso lapho sisenza isinqumo somuntu ngamunye?

¹² Khathesi kasixoxeni ngesigaba sesibili​—okokuzilibazisa okulezenzo ezilokuziphatha okungaliwa mgceke liBhayibhili kumbe ezingavunyelwa ngokucacileyo eLizwini likaNkulunkulu. Nxa sikhetha okokuzilibazisa okufanana lalokhu, umKhristu ngamunye kumele azikhethele ukuthi kuyini akuthola kusakha. (Bala uGalathiya 6:5.) Loba kunjalo, silaso isiqondiso esingasinceda ukuthi senze isinqumo. IBhayibhili lilezimiso kumbe iqiniso eliqakathekileyo elisinceda  ukuthi sazi indlela uJehova acabanga ngayo. Ngokulandela izimiso ezinjalo, ‘sizaqedisisa ukuthi intando kaJehova iyini’ ezintweni zonke kugoqela lalokho esikhetha ukuzilibazisa ngakho.​—Kwabase-Efesu 5:17.

13. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singazilibazisi ngezinto ezingenza ukuthi uJehova angathokozi?

¹³ Kuyazwisiseka ukuthi kakusiwo wonke amaKhristu aselokuqonda okufananayo ngokuphathelane lokuziphatha. (KwabaseFiliphi 1:9) Ngaphezu kwalokho, amaKhristu ayananzelela  ukuthi ezindabeni zokuzilibazisa abantu bathanda okutshiyeneyo. Ngakho-ke ngeke sikhangelele ukuthi wonke amaKhristu azakwenza izinqumo ezifananayo. Lanxa kunjalo, uma singaqhubeka sivumela izimiso zikaNkulunkulu ukuthi ziqondise izingqondo zethu lezinhliziyo, sizakuba lesifiso esikhulu sokubalekela loba yikuphi okokuzilibazisa okungenza uJehova angathokozi.​—IHubo 119:11, 129; 1 UPhetro 2:16.

14. (a) Kuyini okumele sicabange ngakho nxa sikhetha okokuzilibazisa? (b) Izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza uNkulunkulu singazinika njani indawo yakuqala empilweni yethu?

¹⁴ Kulokunye okuqakathekileyo okumele ucabange ngakho lapho ukhetha okokuzilibazisa: isikhathi sakho. Izinto ozilibazisa ngazo zitshengisa lokho okubona kusamukeleka, futhi isikhathi osithatha uzilibazisa siveza ukuthi yikuphi okuqakathekileyo kuwe. Izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza uNkulunkulu yizo eziqakathekileyo kumaKhristu. (Bala uMathewu 6:33.) Kodwa-ke kumele wenzeni ukuze ube leqiniso lokuthi izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza uNkulunkulu uzibeka kuqala empilweni yakho? Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi: “Qaphelani kakhulu ukuba liphila njani​—kungabi njengezithutha kodwa njengabahlakaniphileyo, liwasebenzise ngokupheleleyo amathuba wonke.” (Kwabase-Efesu 5:15, 16) Ukufaka imingcele ecacileyo yesikhathi ozasisebenzisa ekuzilibaziseni kuzakunceda ukuthi ube lesikhathi sokwenza “izinto eziqakathekileyo”​—izinto ezingakunceda ukuthi ubuhlobo bakho loNkulunkulu bube buhle.​—KwabaseFiliphi 1:10, NW.

15. Kungani kuyikuhlakanipha ukuthi sibe lemingcele lapho sikhetha okokuzilibazisa?

¹⁵ Kuqakathekile ukuthi sizibekele imingcele ukuze sivikeleke lapho sikhetha okokuzilibazisa. Kutshoni lokho? Cabanga futhi ngomzekeliso wesithelo. Ukuze ungadli okubolileyo ungananzelelanga, awusiki kuphela indawo ebolileyo kodwa usika lendawo egombolozele lapho okubole khona. Ngendlela efananayo, kutshengisa ukuhlakanipha  ukuthi sibe lemingcele ezasenza sivikeleke lapho sikhetha okokuzilibazisa. UmKhristu ohlakaniphileyo ubalekela okokuzilibazisa okungahambelani lezimiso zeBhayibhili ngokucacileyo, futhi ubalekela zonke izinhlobo zokuzilibazisa ezisolisayo loba ezikhanya zilezinto ezingaphambanisa ubuhlobo bethu loJehova. (IZaga 4:25-27) Ukulandela eduze iLizwi likaNkulunkulu kuzakunceda ukuthi wenze njalo.

16. (a) Singatshengisa njani ukuthi silombono kaJehova endabeni yokuziphatha? (b) Ukusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibhili kungaba njani yindlela yakho yokuphila?

¹⁶ AmaKhristu aqala acabange ngombono kaJehova lapho ekhetha okokuzilibazisa. IBhayibhili liveza imizwa kaJehova lezimiso zakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, iNkosi uSolomoni yakhuluma ngezinto ezithile ezizondwa nguJehova, ‘njengolimi oluqamba amanga, izandla ezichitha igazi elingelacala, inhliziyo egaya izibozi njalo lezinyawo eziphangisa ukuya ebubini.’ (IZaga 6:16-19) Umbono kaJehova kumele uwuthinte njani owakho? Umhubi uyasixwayisa, “Akuthi bonke abamthandayo uJehova bazonde okubi.” (IHubo 97:10) Okokuzilibazisa okukhethayo kumele kutshengise ukuthi uyakuzonda sibili lokho okuzondwa nguJehova. (KwabaseGalathiya 5:​19-​21) Khumbula ukuthi okwenza uwedwa yikho okutshengisa ukuthi ungumuntu onjani hatshi lokho okwenza usebantwini. (IHubo 11:4; 16:8) Ngakho nxa ulesifiso esisuka enhliziyweni sokuthi utshengise umbono kaJehova  endabeni yokuziphatha kukho konke okwenzayo empilweni yakho, uzahlala ukhetha okuhambisana lezimiso zeBhayibhili. Ukwenza njalo kuzakuba yindlela yakho yokuphila.​—2 KwabaseKhorinte 3:18.

17. Singakakhethi okokuzilibazisa, kumele sizibuze yiphi imibuzo?

¹⁷ Kuyini okunye ongakwenza ukuze ube leqiniso lokuthi uzakwenza izinto ezihambisana lemicabango kaJehova lapho ukhetha okokuzilibazisa? Cabanga ngombuzo lo othi, ‘Lokhu kuzangithinta njani futhi uNkulunkulu uzangibona njani?’ Ngokwesibonelo, ungakakhethi ukubukela ifilimu ethile, zibuze, ‘Engizakubukela kufilimu le kuzawuthinta njani umzwangedwa wami?’ Kasiboneni ukuthi yiziphi izimiso esingazisebenzisa endabeni leyo.

18, 19. (a) Isimiso esikuFiliphi 4:8 sisinceda njani ukuthi sibone okokuzilibazisa okuhlanzekileyo? (b) Yiziphi ezinye izimiso ezingakunceda ukuthi ukhethe okokuzilibazisa okuhle? (Bona amabala angaphansi.)

¹⁸ Isimiso esiqakathekileyo sitholakala kuFiliphi 4:8, othi: “Konke okuliqiniso, konke okulesithunzi, konke okulungileyo, konke okuhlambulukileyo, konke okuhle, konke okubukekayo​—uma ulutho luluhle kakhulu loba lubongeka​—cabangani ngezinto ezinje.” UPhawuli wayengakhulumi ngokuzilibazisa kodwa wayekhuluma ngeminakano yenhliziyo, okumele igxile ezintweni ezithokozisa uNkulunkulu. (IHubo 19:14) Kodwa amazwi kaPhawuli angasebenza endabeni yokuzilibazisa. Njani?

¹⁹ Zibuze, ‘Amafilimu engiwakhethayo, imidlalo yamavidiyo, izingoma kumbe ezinye izinhlobo zokuzilibazisa zingenza ngicabange ngakho “konke okuhlambulukileyo” yini?’ Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uqeda ukubukela ifilimu, ingqondo yakho isala icabangani? Nxa ucabanga ngezinto ezinhle, ezimsulwa njalo ezithokozisayo, kutshengisa ukuthi ozilibazise ngakho kuyakha. Kodwa nxa ifilimu leyo ikwenze wacabanga ngezinto ezingahlambulukanga, kutshengisa ukuthi obukubukele bekungalunganga, njalo kulimaza.  (UMathewu 12:33; UMakho 7:20-23) Kungani kunjalo? Ngoba ukucabanga ngezinto ezilokuziphatha okubi kuphambanisa ukuthula enhliziyweni yakho, kuhaqaza umzwangedwa wakho ofundiswe liBhayibhili njalo kulimaza ubuhlobo bakho loNkulunkulu. (Kwabase-Efesu 5:5; 1 KuThimothi 1:5, 19) Njengoba ukuzilibazisa okunjalo kukulimaza wena ngokwakho, zimisele ukuthi ukubalekele. * (KwabaseRoma 12:2) Woba njengomhubi owakhuleka kuJehova wathi: “Phendula amehlo ami asuke ezintweni ezingesulutho.”​—IHubo 119:37.

20, 21. UMbhalo ka-1 KwabaseKhorinte 10:​23, 24 singawusebenzisa njani nxa sikhetha okokuzilibazisa?

²⁰ UPhawuli wakhuluma ngesimiso seBhayibhili esiqakathekileyo okumele sicabange ngaso nxa sisenza izinqumo ezindabeni zomuntu ngamunye. Wathi: ‘Izinto zonke ziyavunyelwa​—kodwa akusizinto zonke ezilosizo. Akula muntu okumele azidingele okuhle, kodwa okuhle kwabanye.’ (1 KwabaseKhorinte 10:23, 24) Isimiso lesi sihambelana njani lokukhetha okokuzilibazisa okuhlanzekileyo? Kumele uzibuze ukuthi, ‘Okokuzilibazisa engikukhethayo kubaphatha njani abanye?’

²¹ Umzwangedwa wakho ungakuvumela ukuthi uzilibazise ngezinto ezithile ozibona “zivumelekile,” kumbe zisamukeleka. Kodwa nxa ungananzelela ukuthi abanye okhonza labo balomzwangedwa ongahambelani lowakho njalo kabavumelani lalokho ozilibazisa ngakho, kuhle ukuthi ukwekele. Kungani? Ngoba kawufuni ukuthi ‘wenze isono kubazalwane bakho’ kumbe ukuthi ‘wenze isono kuKhristu’ njengokwatshiwo nguPhawuli, ngokwenza ukuthi kube nzima ngalabo okhonza labo ukuthi bahlale bethembekile kuNkulunkulu.  Uyasiqakathekisa isikhuthazo esithi: “Lingakhubekisi muntu.” (1 KwabaseKhorinte 8:12; 10:32) AmaKhristu eqiniso lamuhla alalela iseluleko sikaPhawuli ngokubalekela ukuzilibazisa ngezinto ‘ezivumelekileyo’ kodwa ‘ezingakhiyo.’​—KwabaseRoma 14:1; 15:1.

22. Kungani amaKhristu evumela imibono etshiyeneyo ezindabeni zomuntu ngamunye?

²² Kodwa kulokunye okuphathelane lendaba yokudinga okuhle kwabanye. UmKhristu olomzwangedwa ongamvumeliyo ukuthi azilibazise ngezinto ezithile kakumelanga azame ukwenza ukuthi bonke ebandleni lobuKhristu balandele umbono wakhe ezindabeni zokuthi yikuphi okokuzilibazisa okulungileyo. Nxa engenza njalo, uyabe enjengomtshayeli osemgwaqweni omkhulu ofuna bonke abatshayeli abasebenzisa umgwaqo lowo bahambe ngesiqubu asifunayo yena. Ukwenza njalo kungatshengisa ukungabi langqondo. Etshengisa uthando lobuKhristu, umuntu olomzwangedwa ongamvumeliyo ukuzilibazisa ngezinto ezithile kumele ahloniphe akhonza labo abalombono otshiyene lowakhe endabeni yokuzilibazisa kodwa ohambelana lezimiso zobuKhristu. Ngendlela enjalo, wenza ‘ukubekeka loba ukuzwisisa kwakhe kubonakale kubobonke.’​—KwabaseFiliphi 4:5; UmTshumayeli 7:16.

23. Kuyini okungakwenza ube leqiniso lokuthi ukhetha okokuzilibazisa okwakhayo?

²³ Ngamafitshane, kuyini okungakwenza ube leqiniso lokuthi ukhetha okokuzilibazisa okwakhayo? Ngokutshiya okokuzilibazisa okutshengisa ukuziphatha okubi okulahlwa yiLizwi likaNkulunkulu ngendlela ecacileyo. Landela izimiso zeBhayibhili ezingasetshenziswa ezintweni iBhayibhili elingaziqambi mathupha ukuthi zimbi. Balekela okokuzilibazisa okulimaza umzwangedwa wakho njalo uzimisele ukwekela loba yikuphi okokuzilibazisa okungaphathi kuhle abanye, ikakhulu labo okhonza labo. Isinqumo sakho esiqinileyo sokuthi wenze njalo senza uNkulunkulu adunyiswe njalo sigcina wena lemuli yakho lisethandweni lwakhe.